Afghan *Civilian Deaths* Rose 40 Percent in 2008

[chill_wind]

Afghan Civilian Deaths Rose 40 Percent in 2008

By DEXTER FILKINS
Published: February 17, 2009

The number of civilians killed in Afghanistan leapt by nearly 40 percent last year, according to a survey released Tuesday by the United Nations, the latest measure of how the intensifying violence between the Taliban and American-led forces is ravaging that country.

The death toll — 2,118 civilians killed in 2008, compared with 1,523 in 2007 — is the highest since the Taliban government was ousted in November 2001, at the outset of a war with no quick end in sight.

Civilian deaths have become a political flash point in Afghanistan, eroding public support for the war and inflaming tensions with President Hamid Karzai, who has bitterly condemned the American-led coalition for the rising toll. President Obama’s decision to deploy more troops to Afghanistan raises the prospect of even more casualties.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/world/asia/18afghan.html?_r=2&ref=world

UN Report: http://www.unama-afg.org/docs/_UN-Docs/_human%20rights/2009/UNAMA_09february-Annual%20Report_PoC%202008_FINAL_11Feb09.pdf

[originalpckelly]

1. I have a feeling that there are going to be a lot more civilian casualties you can believe in.

We have watches, they have time.

[aquart]

5. Yes.

And right now, they have to be jockeying for power because they know there's going to be an influx of American troops. The shakeout has to be bloody.

[superduperfarleft]

2. But some chickenhawk DUers are more than happy to "escalate" this mess. n/t

[chill_wind]

4. They must have a lot of money the banks and the war racketeers

haven't found out about yet. And a lot of offspring to volunteer.

Or would that be everyone else's offspring?

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. What this boils down to is the possibility that abandoning that place

would lead to terrorist training camps being set up there again. So, instead it's an never ending no-win police action. Time is on their side.

[aquart]

6. A tiger by the tail.

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. They wore the Soviets down the same way they are doing with us.

There is nothing to win there. They'll set up terrorist camps wherever we aren't. It's an utterly hopeless situation.

Probably the only thing that can be done if anything can practically be done is to keep a close eye on things from afar & bomb whatever looks suspicious. Other than that it's a black hole.

[spanone]

8. yep

[chill_wind]

9. ..